Bahrain Airshow: Aero Gulf powers up Norwegian CFM56 engine MRO facility

Above: Rear view of a CFM56 engine (CFM-5).

The Group says it forms the cornerstone of a growing aviation portfolio that will build on its reputation and skills across the MENA region.

With a worldwide customer base, including significant penetration of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, the Group is building upon an investment programme which has increased capacity at the Aero Gulf Sola Engine Centre to 120 engines per annum.

Designed specifically for CFM56 engine maintenance, it is approved to EASA 145 and FAR 145 standards with competitive TAT guaranteed by knowledgeable and highly skilled engineers.

Ayman Alobaidli, director of Aero Gulf Group, emphasised the importance of this knowledge base and explained how the Group plans to deliver the engine repair services for the MENA region. “Our modern facility at Sola Engine Centre in Norway is dedicated to the provision of highly customised engine MRO services for CFM56 engine variants. Our market research indicates that there are limited specialist CFM repair capabilities based in the MENA region, so we are focusing our efforts here.”

“There has already been phenomenal growth in the Middle East, but this is set to increase exponentially as new aircraft orders arrive” adds Ghanim Mubarak Al Kuwari, director of Aero Gulf Group and responsible for all investment programmes focusing on Islamic finance. “Fleet growth is forecast at 5.9% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) to 12,219 in the next 10 years and that is 45% of the global fleet. Alongside this, Middle East MRO spend is forecast to grow at 9.4% CAGR, well above the global average, driven primarily by the high rate of twin-aisle fleet growth in the region. Total MRO spend in 2021 will be $6.8billion, so the MRO market is set to double.

“In North Africa the figures are equally significant for Aero Gulf’s repair services. MRO spend is set to grow by 5.2% CAGR above the global average, resulting in $1billion expenditure in 2021.”

Khalifa Alsada, director of Aero Gulf Group, with primary involvement in supply chain and MRO Management said: “The Aero Gulf Sola Engine Centre operates within the Group’s entrepreneurial and flexible environment. To provide services that bring true value and quality for our customers is the guiding principle across the organisation and we are well set to meet both the challenges and the opportunities that MENA represents. With that, I would like to thank the Economic Development Board of Bahrain (EDB), the Ministry of Transportation and the Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) for all the support and assistance they have provided in realising this venture.”